By Stephanie Wesseling, American Red Cross Public Affairs
"Bambi saved my life," says Linda Meeder. Bambi is a ten-year-old Boxer mix that Linda rescued many years ago. This time, Bambi rescued Linda.
When the powerful storm surge from Hurricane Ian poured into Linda's home in south Fort Myers, she placed Bambi on the heaviest thing she could think of, a baby grand piano in her living room. But the flood waters kept flowing in. The piano started to float, and Bambi jumped off. Linda had never taught Bambi how to swim, but her animal instincts quickly kicked in. Linda lost track of Bambi for what felt like an eternity. Suddenly, Bambi popped her head out of the water and was doggy-paddling to a nearby bedroom, with Linda swimming close behind.
All of Linda's furniture was floating against her living room wall, but she made it to the bedroom where Bambi had climbed onto a mattress. "Bambi is the smart one, so I followed her," Linda said. She located something under her feet to steady herself and launched onto the mattress. Linda spent the next several hours on a floating mattress with her knees hovering just below the ceiling fan in the room.
Linda's story is one of many volunteers have heard in Red Cross shelters set up after Hurricane Ian's landfall in southwest Florida. October 8, 2002, Thursday night, nearly 2,100 people sought refuge in 15 Red Cross and partner shelters across Florida. At Red Cross shelters, everyone is welcome, even if they don't intend to spend the night. Warm meals, showers, and comfort kits with toiletries are available and trained health and mental health professionals are helping to provide comfort and care to all impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian.
Several hours later, once the water had receded in Linda's home, she recalls seeing the bio-luminescent algae from the Gulf water shimmering all along the walls and curtain rods. "It was the eeriest thing because it was pitch black after the sun went down."
The following day, Linda discovered that a boat had washed up on her front lawn, and a neighbor's Mustang was blocking the back door. She could leave her home because her black leather couch had busted through the windows on her back patio.
Linda's house is unlivable. She arrived at the Red Cross with the clothes on her back and Bambi in tow. "I have nothing," she said.
Unfortunately, this is not the first storm that Linda has lived through. In 1992, Linda resided in Homestead when Hurricane Andrew demolished communities and left a trail of destruction. Her home was damaged then too. "It just keeps getting worse and worse until I have no home now," shared Linda.
There is a lot of uncertainty about the future for Linda and Bambi, but for now, they are both safe and cared for in a Red Cross shelter. The road to recovery is long for the thousands of displaced people, but the Red Cross will be here for as long as needed.
The Red Cross is accepting financial donations to help people like Linda and their pets, like Bambi, recover from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian. To donate, visit redcross.org/donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word IAN to 90999 to make a $10 donation.